The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has criticised the proposed waves of strike action while the British Medical Association is fully supportive of the action.
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“They acknowledge that the imposition of a contract isn’t ideal and feel that the government and the BMA needs to reopen negotiations”.
It said: “We know there are genuine concerns about the contract and working arrangements, but we do not consider the proposed strikes are proportionate”.
Luton and Dunstable Hospital is making preparations for the planned junior doctors strike on September 12.
“That’s equivalent to half a million – 500,000 – cancelled operations and four million lost outpatient appointments, so what we’re talking about is a completely unprecedented scale of disruption and negative impact on patients”.
On Thursday union leaders chose to go ahead with full walkouts between 8am and 5pm on 5-7 October, 10-11 October; 14-18 November; and 5-9 December.
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “Employers are shocked and saddened that the BMA Council has supported the call from the junior doctors committee for further industrial action despite the BMA agreeing a deal with employers and the Government in May”.
And there have been warnings by one charity that trust in the patient-doctor relationship could be eroded by the months of disruptions.
“They were offered a detailed statement and this was rejected for inclusion in the final agreement, so I’m bemused to hear the BMA cite lack of detail on this subject as a justification for the most extreme strike action in NHS history”.
The Patients Association condemned the announcement, saying it was a “disturbing” time to be an NHS patient.
Junior doctors will stage full strikes from September 12 to 16, then on October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18, and December 5 to 9 in their ongoing dispute over a controversial new contract.
A source within the medical profession working locally told SalfordOnline.com: “It’s a really hard situation”.
Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May accused the BMA of “playing politics”.
He added there had been a “quite obvious shift in the opinion” of medical leaders in relation to the strikes.
JUNIOR doctors defended stepping up their strike action yesterday against the hated seven-day contract being forced on them by NHS wrecker and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
“We want to resolve this dispute through talks, but in forcing through a contract that junior doctors have rejected and which they don’t believe is good for their patients or themselves, the Government has left them with no other choice”.
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This is down from 74% support for the strikes in February, when 26% opposed the strikes.
